Peter Belafsky, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Director of Voice and Swallowing 

UC Davis Health System
Department of Otolaryngology
2521 Stockton Blvd, Suite 7200
Sacramento, CA 95817

Contact:
Phone: (916)734-6581

Clinical Focus

Dr. Belafsky's primary clinical interests are the comprehensive diagnosis and management of voice, swallowing, and airway disorders. As Medical Director of the Voice and Swallowing Center at UC Davis, Dr. Belafsky treats a wide array of laryngeal and esophageal disorders. These disorders include but are not limited to vocal fold paralysis and paresis, vocal fold dysfunction (VCD), laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR), chronic cough, and dysphagia caused by stroke, ALS, Zenker's diverticulum, esophageal motility disorders, Parkinson's disease, and swallowing problems suffered as a consequence of the treatment of head and neck cancer. Dr. Belafsky has pioneered minimally invasive treatments of voice and swallowing disorders. Minimally invasive in-office procedures performed by Dr. Belafsky at the Center include unsedated treatment of laryngeal polyps, leukoplakia, and papillomas, subglottic, tracheal, and esophageal strictures, and office-based vocal fold medialization. Dr. Belafsky's primary research focus is the development of an artificial swallowing mechanism. He has created a medical device that can manually control the upper esophageal sphincter and is working on a comprehensive swallow propulsion system. He is also pursuing his interest in bloodless surgery through the use of radiofrequency probes and non-contact lasers. It is his ultimate goal to establish a bloodless surgery center.

Novel and minimally invasive treatments for swallowing disorders, transcutaneous electrical stimulation for dysphagia therapy, esophageal and extraesophageal reflux disease, esophageal cancer.

•  Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY, B.A. (Cum Laude)

• Tulane University School of Medicine, MD, New Orleans, LA June, 1994
• Tulane University School of Public Health, MPH, New Orleans, LA June, 1994
• Tulane University Dept. of General Surgery Surgical Internship (PGY1), New Orleans, LA June, 1996
• Tulane University Graduate School PhD Epidemiology, New Orleans, LA December, 1997
• Wake Forest University Dept. of Otolaryngology Fellowship Laryngology, Winston-Salem, NC June, 2001

• American Academy of Otolaryngology -Head and Neck Surgery
• Sacramento Society of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
• San Diego Society of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
• Fellow, College of Physicians of Philadelphia

2001 - Belafsky PC, Postma GN, Daniel E, Koufman JA. Transnasal esophagoscopy. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2001 Dec;125(6):588-9.

2001 - Postma GN, Belafsky PC, Koufman JA. Laryngeal and esophageal histoplasmosis. Ear Nose Throat J. 2001 Oct;80(10):702.

2001 - Postma GN, Tomek MS, Belafsky PC, Koufman JA. Esophageal motor function in laryngopharyngeal reflux is superior to that in classic gastroesophageal reflux disease. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2001 Dec;110(12):1114-6.

2001 - Belafsky PC, Postma G, Koufman J. Replacement of a failed tracheoesophageal puncture prosthesis under direct vision. Ear Nose Throat J. 2001 Dec;80(12):862.

2001 - Johnson PE, Koufman JA, Nowak LJ, Belafsky PC, Postma GN. Ambulatory 24-Hour Double-Probe pH Monitoring: The Importance of Manometry. Laryngoscope. 2001 Nov;111(11 Pt 1):1970-5.

2002 - Belafsky PC, Postma G, Koufman J. Esophageal inlet patch. Ear Nose Throat J. 2002 Jan;81(1):18.

2002 - Belafsky PC, Postma G, Koufman J. Laryngeal carcinoma and a lower esophageal web. Ear Nose Throat J. 2001 Nov;80(11):788.

2002 - Aviv JE, Spitzer J, Cohen M, Ma G, Belafsky PC, Close LG. Laryngeal adductor reflex and pharyngeal squeeze as predictors of laryngeal penetration and aspiration. Laryngoscope. 2002 Feb;112(2):338-41.

2002 - Belafsky PC, Postma G, Koufman J. Dilation of an esophageal stricture caused by epidermolysis bullosa. Ear Nose Throat J. 2002 Feb;81(2):86.

2002 - Belafsky PC, Postma G, Koufman J, Bach K. Candida esophagitis. Ear Nose Throat J. 2002 Mar;81(3):144.

2002 - Belafsky PC, Postma G, Koufman J, Bach K. Stevens-Johnson syndrome with diffuse esophageal involvement. Ear Nose Throat J. 2002 Apr;81(4):220.

2002 - Belafsky PC, Mims JW, Postma G, Koufman J. Dysphagia and aspiration secondary to polymyositis. Ear Nose Throat J. 2002 May;81(5):316.

2002 - Belafsky PC, Postma G, Koufman J. The association between laryngeal pseudosulcus and laryngopharyngeal reflux. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2002 Jun;126(6):649-52.

2002 - Postma G, Belafsky PC, Koufman J. Endoscopic Zenker’s Diverticulotomy. Ear Nose Throat J 2002 Jun;81(6):380.

2002 - Belafsky PC, Postma GN, Koufman JA. Validity and reliability of the reflux symptom index (RSI). J Voice 2002 Jun;16(2):274-7.

2002 - Belafsky PC, Postma GN, Koufman JA. Hiatal hernia. Ear Nose Throat J 2002 Aug;81(8):502.

2002 - Koufman JA, Belafsky PC, Bach KK, Daniel E, Postma GN. Prevalence of Esophagitis in Patients With pH-Documented Laryngopharyngeal Reflux. Laryngoscope 2002 Sep;112(9):1606-9.

2002 - Postma GN, Belafsky PC, Aviv JE, Koufman JA. Laryngopharyngeal reflux testing. Ear Nose Throat J 2002 Sep;81(9 Suppl 2):14-8.

2002 - Belafsky PC, Postma GN, Amin MR, Koufman JA. Symptoms and findings of laryngopharyngeal reflux. Ear Nose Throat J 2002 Sep;81(9 Suppl 2):10-3.

2002 - Belafsky PC, Halsey WS, Postma GN, Koufman JA. Distal esophageal meat impaction. Ear Nose Throat J 2002 Oct;81(10):702.

2002 - Belafsky PC, Postma GN, Reulbach TR, Holland BW, Koufman JA.Muscle tension dysphonia as a sign of underlying glottal insufficiency. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2002 Nov;127(5):448-51.

2002 - Postma GN, Bach KK, Belafsky PC, Koufman JA. The role of transnasal esophagoscopy in head and neck oncology. Laryngoscope 2002 Dec;112(12):2242-3.

2002 - Johnson PE, Belafsky PC, Postma GN. Topical nasal anesthesia and laryngopharyngeal sensory testing: a prospective, double-blind crossover study. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2003 Jan;112(1):14-6.

2002 - Setzen M, Cohen MA, Perlman PW, Belafsky PC, Guss J, Mattucci KF, Ditkoff M. The association between laryngopharyngeal sensory deficits, pharyngeal motor function, and the prevalence of aspiration with thin liquids. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2003 Jan;128(1):99-102.

2003 - Belafsky PC, Halsey WS, Postma GN, Koufman JA. Cervical esophageal foreign body. Ear Nose Throat J 2003 Jan;82(1):24.

2003 - Belafsky PC, Postma GN, Koufman JA. 'Steakhouse syndrome' in a man with a lower esophageal ring and a hiatal hernia. Ear Nose Throat J 2003 Feb;82(2):102.;

2003 - Koufman JA, Belafsky PC. Infectious and inflammatory disorders of the larynx. In: Snow JB, Ballenger JJ, editors. Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. New York: BC Decker Inc, 2003. p. 1185-1217.;

2003 - Belafsky PC, Halsey W. An endoscopic view of a wireless pH-monitoring capsule. Ear Nose Throat J 2003 Apr;82(4):254.

2003 - Belafsky PC, Postma GN, Koufman JA. A retroflexed view of a hiatal hernia. Ear Nose Throat J 2003 Mar;82(3):176.

2003 - Johnson PE, Belafsky PC, Postma GN. Topical nasal anesthesia for transnasal fiberoptic laryngoscopy: A prospective, double-blind, cross-over study. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2003 Apr;128(4):452-4.

2003 - Belafsky PC, Speirs J. Postswallow aspiration secondary to stenosis of the upper esophageal sphincter. Ear Nose Throat J. 2003 Nov;82(11):838-9.

2003 - Belafsky PC. Abnormal endoscopic pharyngeal and laryngeal findings attributable to reflux. Am J Med. 2003 Aug 18;115(3 Suppl):90-6.

2003 - Belafsky PC, Speirs J. Endoscopic cricopharyngeal myotomy. Ear Nose Throat J 2003 Oct;82(10):755.

2003 - Belafsky PC, Postma GN. The Laryngeal and Esophageal Manifestations of Sjogren’s Syndrome. Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2003 Aug;5(4):297-303.

2003 - Wahl K, Belafsky PC. Esophageal foreign body. Ear Nose Throat J. 2003 Sep;82(9):681.

2003 - Belafsky PC, Blumenfeld L, LePage A, Nahrstedt K. The accuracy of the modified Evan's blue dye test in predicting aspiration. Laryngoscope. 2003 Nov;113(11):1969-72.

2004 - Peter C. Belafsky, M.D., Ph.D., Jan Speirs, MA, CCC-SLP, Susan G. Hiss, Ph.D., and Gregory N. Postma, M.D. The Safety And Efficacy Of Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation In Treating Dysphagia: Preliminary Experience [abstract]. The Southern Section of the American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc. January 8-11, 2004. Marco Island, Florida.

2004 - Belafsky PC, Castro-Del Rosario L. Removal of a long esophageal foreign body. Ear Nose Throat J. 2004 Jun;83(6):388.

2004 - Perlman PW, Cohen MA, Setzen M, Belafsky PC, Guss J, Mattucci KF, Ditkoff M. The risk of aspiration of pureed food as determined by flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing with sensory testing. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2004 Jan; 130(1): 80-3.

2004 - Belafsky PC. Glycogenic Acanthosis. Ear Nose Throat J. 2004 Apr;83(4):229.
2004 - Belafsky PC. Incompetent lower esophageal sphincter. Ear Nose Throat J. 2004 May;83(5):318.

2004 - Westcott CJ, Hopkins MB, Bach K, Postma GN, Belafsky PC, Koufman JA. Fundoplication for laryngopharyngeal reflux disease. J Am Coll Surg. 2004 Jul;199(1):23-30.

2004 - Belafsky PC, Allen K, Castro-Del Rosario L, Roseman D. Wireless pH testing as an adjunct to unsedated transnasal esophagoscopy: the safety and efficacy of transnasal telemetry capsule placement. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2004 Jul;131(1):26-8.

2004 - Postma GN, Amin MR, Simpson CB, Belafsky PC. Office procedures for the esophagus. Ear Nose Throat J. 2004 Jul;83(7 Suppl 2):17-21.

2004 - Belafsky PC, Postma GN. Hypopharyngeal schwannoma. Ear Nose Throat J. 2004 Jul;83(7):453.

2004 - Belafsky PC, Postma GN. Vocal fold augmentation with calcium hydroxylapatite. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2004 Oct;131(4):351-4.

2004 - McGuigan JE, Belafsky PC, Fromer L, McCarthy D, Nostrant T, Postma GN, Welage LS, Wolfe MM. Review article: diagnosis and management of night-time reflux. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2004 Dec;20 Suppl 9:57-72.

• Dr. Peter Belafsky is the Director of Voice and Swallowing Center
  Attending Otolaryngologist

•  www.ucdvoice.org